Live Commentary

Gabriel Obertan takes a shot. Blocked by James Collins. Luis Nani takes a inswinging corner to the near post, save by Brad Friedel.

91:31 +1.31

Gabriel Obertan takes a shot. Brad Friedel makes a save. Corner taken by Luis Nani from the left by-line to the near post. Michael Carrick takes a shot. Blocked by James Collins. Luis Nani has an effort at goal from outside the box which goes wide right of the goal.

90:31 +0.31

Gabriel Obertan has an effort at goal from outside the area missing to the wide right of the target.

The ball is sent over by Ji-Sung Park, Stephen Warnock makes a clearance. Corner taken right-footed by Luis Nani from the right by-line to the near post, Dimitar Berbatov takes a shot from 18 yards. Richard Dunne gets a block in.

Stewart Downing takes a shot. Wes Brown gets a block in. Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Ashley Young from the right by-line to the near post, Richard Dunne takes a shot. Save made by Edwin Van der Sar. Dimitar Berbatov concedes a free kick for a foul on Luke Young. Free kick taken by Ashley Young.

41:54

Stewart Downing produces a cross, Rio Ferdinand gets a block in. Stewart Downing decides to take the corner short. The ball is crossed by Marc Albrighton, clearance made by Ji-Sung Park.

40:36

The ball is delivered by Patrice Evra, clearance by Jonathan Hogg.

39:01

Darren Fletcher has an effort at goal from just outside the penalty box which goes wide of the left-hand post.

39:01

Darren Fletcher produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that goes wide left of the goal.

39:01

Darren Fletcher has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the left-hand upright.

39:01

Michael Carrick produces a right-footed shot from just outside the penalty box that misses to the left of the goal.

The ball is sent over by Luis Nani, Marc Albrighton manages to make a clearance.

3:45

A cross is delivered by Javier Hernandez.

The referee gets the game underway.

The ref blows to signal half-time.

The second half kicks off.

The game is over, as the referee blows his whistle.

Match Preview

Villa must not be overawed - Houllier
Gerard Houllier has urged his Aston Villa youngsters not too show Manchester United too much respect as he looks to continue his fine record against Sir Alex Ferguson.
Villa will be aiming to win a home Barclays Premier League clash against the Red Devils for the first time since the opening day of the 1995-96 campaign.
They are decimated by injuries to senior players with midfielder Stephen Ireland the latest doubt after missing training today with a sickness bug.
But Houllier can draw on the knowledge that he has triumphed five times in Liverpool-United clashes during his time at Anfield.
And he is hoping the likes of Nathan Delfouneso, Barry Bannan, Mark Albrighton and Ciaran Clark will relish rather than be fazed by the challenge of taking on United.
Houllier said: "Sir Alex said to me 'you are more successful against Manchester United than even Bob Paisley.' But they've won more titles!
"Villa have not won against United (at home) for a long time. I would say that at some stage it has to stop.
"It already stopped in a way last year because Villa won at Old Trafford for the first time in 25 encounters or something like that.
"We hope in front of our fans, we give the best of ourselves and get a result.
"We've got a good group of players and a good team - whatever the opposition.
"I regret some of the players are not available because in that sort of game you need more experience.
"But I can quite happy to see some young players going through and it would be for them a good experience and a good opportunity for the future."
Houllier added: "We must make sure we don't give them too much respect.
"They are so good, we must not watch them play.
"One of the problems that could happen is it takes us 20 minutes to get into the game."
Houllier is full of admiration for Ferguson and his achievements during the past two decades at Old Trafford.
He said: "He's been a friend for a long time, even before I came to England, and after.
"We met at coaches get-togethers organised by Andy Roxburgh at UEFA, sometimes on holiday. We've been friends and whatever happens we will remain friends."
Darren Fletcher has told his Manchester United team-mates it is time to end the succession of draws that has halted their progress this term.
Although much has been made of the 25-match unbeaten run that stretches back to last season's title-losing reverse against Chelsea, United have actually failed to win half their games in the Premier League this term.
Their sixth draw of the campaign came in Wednesday's drab Manchester derby.
Taken in isolation, the result was not too bad, particularly as Sir Alex Ferguson's side dominated for long periods.
However, in a season when points were tossed away so meekly at Fulham and Everton, it was a costly result that allowed Premier League leaders Chelsea to re-establish a four-point cushion.
Fletcher accepts United need to make up for lost ground, and views the trip to Aston Villa as the perfect place to start.
"People are talking about us not losing but we have drawn too many, especially away from home," said the Scotland skipper.
"We have to start winning our away games if we want to push up this league.
"You can't afford to draw too many games, otherwise you will get left behind.
"Overall, you would be better winning two games out of three and losing the other one rather than winning one and drawing two.
"That is why we were disappointed on Wednesday.
"We could have got the win and felt we produced a performance good enough to get us one."
There are still a couple of players affected by the flu virus that has swept round United's Carrington training complex over the past fortnight but disruption should be nothing like that Ferguson encountered when he was trying to select a side to face Wolves a week ago.
Paul Scholes is suspended and young Brazilian defender Rafael has been ruled out with a dead leg.
There is some good news of Patrice Evra, who returned to training after injuring his ankle against Manchester City and is expected to be fit.
Fletcher claims he is feeling good too.
Gone are the days when the Scot was regarded as a bit-part player at Old Trafford.
Now the 26-year-old is a senior figure, widely acknowledged as one of the most effective midfielders in the top flight.
"I am coping fine and loving every minute," said Fletcher.
"I feel good and my energy levels are good. Because my pre-season was uninterrupted, my fitness is high, so I have not had a problem at all."

Formation:4411Manager: Gerard Houllier

Aston Villa

Formation: 442Manager: Alex Ferguson

Man Utd

Brad Friedel

Luke Young

Richard Dunne

James Collins

Stephen Warnock

Marc Albrighton

Jonathan Hogg

Barry Bannan

Stewart Downing

Ashley Young

Gabriel Agbonlahor

SUBS

Bradley Guzan

Nathan Delfouneso

Isaiah Osbourne

Eric Lichaj

Chris Herd

Shane Lowry

Daniel Johnson

Home

Away

Edwin Van der Sar

Wes Brown

Rio Ferdinand

Nemanja Vidic

Patrice Evra

Ji-Sung Park

Darren Fletcher

Michael Carrick

Luis Nani

Javier Hernandez

Dimitar Berbatov

SUBS

Ben Amos

Chris Smalling

Fabio Da Silva

John O'Shea

Gabriel Obertan

Federico Macheda

Darron Gibson

Match Report

United snatch late point
Manchester United launched a stunning comeback to rescue a 2-2 draw through goals by Federico Macheda and Nemanja Vidic after Aston Villa looked set for their first home win over the Red Devils in 15 years.
Villa, lacking nine players through injury or illness, stunned United as Ashley Young and Marc Albrighton put them in command with only 15 minutes remaining.
But United rallied through Macheda and skipper Vidic to maintain their unbeaten record this season.
Nevertheless, they are still three points behind leaders Chelsea who have a game in hand against Sunderland tomorrow.
Villa handed a league debut to 21-year-old reserve midfielder Jonathan Hogg after Ciaran Clark pulled out through injury.
The home side's bench was packed with youngsters including youth team captain Daniel Johnson and rookie Australian duo Chris Herd and Shane Lowry.
United, without the suspended Paul Scholes, were the first to settle and dominated the early exchanges.
Nani got into a dangerous position on the right flank after being found in space by Darren Fletcher but no-one attacked his low centre.
Nani had the first effort on goal after 13 minutes but his 20 yard effort flew over Brad Friedel's crossbar.
Villa threatened for the first time when a reverse pass from Barry Bannan found Stewart Downing in space inside the United box.
But the quality of his delivery across the box could have been better and Rio Ferdinand was able to clear the ball for a corner.
Dimitar Berbatov squandered a great chance to put United ahead after 16 minutes.
He timed his run to beat the offside trap and run onto Javier Hernandez's pass but, from eight yards out, he drilled his shot wide.
Bannan became the first player to be yellow carded for chopping down Hernandez in full flight.
The chances were starting to come for United and Wes Brown deflected the ball wide when he attacked a free-kick played into the near post by Nani.
Edwin van der Sar was called upon to make his first meaningful save after half an hour.
Gabriel Agbonlahor flicked on a long free-kick from James Collins to Ashley Young who turned sharply and forced Van der Sar to save low to his right.
Villa ended the first half with a flourish and Brown blocked a goal-bound shot from Downing at the expense of a corner.
Then Richard Dunne sent a downward header straight at Van der Sar from Ashley Young's corner.
Villa started the second half purposefully and Albrighton had a shot deflected into the side netting by Patrice Evra although referee Mike Dean awarded a goal-kick.
Nani was yellow carded after 52 minutes after appearing to catch Stephen Warnock with his elbow in an aerial challenge.
Albrighton should have put Villa ahead after 52 minutes.
Downing exchanged passes with Ashley Young before delivering a dangerous far post cross.
Albrighton was unmarked six yards out but sent his header back across goal and inches wide of the far post.
United retaliated and James Collins blocked a Dimitar Berbatov volley from a Nani corner.
Luke Young was yellow carded for a late challenge on Nani and then Hernandez was booked for a mis-timed tackle on Albrighton.
Villa were now looking more confident and United were rescued by the woodwork twice in the space of two minutes.
First Collins sent a thumping header against the crossbar from Downing's centre.
Then Gabriel Agbonlahor crashed a shot against the post after Ashley Young's initial effort had been blocked.
Villa's pressure finally paid off after 72 minutes when Ashley Young lashed home a penalty after he had been brought down by Brown as he attempted to convert a pass from Agbonlahor.
Sir Alex Ferguson responded by replacing Berbatov and Hernandez with Macheda and Gabriel Obertan respectively.
But after 75 minutes Villa doubled their lead through Albrighton.
Ashley Young found Downing in space and his cross was turned home at the far post by Albrighton.
United rallied and Ferdinand had a header cleared off the line by Albrighton.
Then Macheda reduced the arrears with a stunning 20-yard drive after Darren Fletcher back-heeled the ball back into his path.
With five minutes left Vidic made it 2-2 with a far post header from Nani's deep centre.
In injury-time Friedel blocked a shot from Obertan.